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Re: Questions re Polikarpov-fighters.
No, I am not confusing the I-180 prototypes with the related I-185. Indeed, I would be interested in knowing just how "new" the I-185 was. As far as I can discern, the I-180 was originally conceived as an all-metal aircraft, but never built as such. Maybe, the I-185, (started in 1939) was the all-metal I-180 with the most powerful engine, and with other modifications that came along in those years. They certainly share a very similar general configuration.
Over the last few hours I have been trying to use Google translation on the links provided by Arsenal VG 33. Unfortunately, the program only translates (rather blindly as you undoubtedly know), about half of each page.
Nevertheless, I think that I have gleaned the information, that the M-88 engine failed its tests, in summer 1940, leading to a hiatus, until it was re-certified at the end of the year. There seems to be a record of a) something called "narkomata" deciding that radial engines had no future, and b) that Yakovlev abused his position to further the fortunes of his (inferior) design, the I-26. As result, the I-180 was cancelled. But the case is made, that because of itīs family relationship with the I-16, hundreds could have been made in early 1941, and that the I-180, unlike the Lagg, Yak, and MiGs, would have been bon-de-guerre, as the french would say.
Birgir Thorisson.
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